FilmL.A. names Paul Audley president

Exec fills post left vacant by Steve MacDonald

FilmL.A. has selected veteran exec Paul Audley as its president, filling the post left vacant when Steve MacDonald ankled last spring.

Audley, who began work in the slot on Monday, has been Arizona state director of the Trust for Public Land and has an extensive background in community-based nonprofit organizations and government, including having served as mayor of Fairfield, Conn., and deputy secretary of state in Connecticut.

FilmL.A.’s board made the announcement Monday following a nationwide search to replace MacDonald, who headed FilmL.A. for four years.

MacDonald took over the agency — a nonprofit org that aims to promote local production by simplifying the permitting process — when it was still known as the Entertainment Industry Development Corp. His predecessor Cody Cluff was convicted of embezzling the org’s money for personal use and was sentenced to three years of probation in 2004.

Founded in 1995, FilmL.A. handles permits under contract to the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and the cities of Diamond Bar, Lancaster, Palmdale, South Gate and the City of Industry. Nonmunicipal clients include the Angeles National Forest, the Los Angeles Unified School District and Burbank Unified School District.

The agency doubled in size during MacDonald’s tenure, leading to a move from Hollywood to L.A. Center Studios in downtown.